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Principles of Biology I > Chapter 3 - The Chemical Building Blocks of Life > Flashcards

Chapter 3 - The Chemical Building Blocks of Life Flashcards

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1
Q

carbon

A
  • Fundamental to life
  • Bonds with C or other molecules
  • Can form up to 4 covalent bonds
  • Reduced C stores energy
  • Can be bonded to functional groups with specific properties
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2
Q

hydrolysis

A

The breakdown of large molecules by the addition of water.

Polymers broken down into monomers.

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3
Q

dehydration synthesis

A

Formation of large molecules by the removal of water.

Monomers joined to form polymers.

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4
Q

denaturation (defn and causes)

A
  • The change in the shape of a protein, usually causing loss of function, such as complete unfolding.
  • Caused by pH, temperature, salt concentration
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5
Q

amino (structure and macromolecules found in)

A
  • Functional group: one N single-bonded to two H in “bent” shape, on end of molecule
  • Found in: proteins, nucleic acids
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6
Q

carboxyl (structure and macromolecules found in)

A
  • Functional group: one C double-bonded to one O (above) and single-bonded to one OH (below) in “bent” shape, on end of molecule
  • Found in: proteins, lipids
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7
Q

carbonyl (structure and macromolecules found in)

A
  • Functional group: One C double-bonded to one O, in middle of molecule
  • Found in: carbohydrates, nucleic acids
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8
Q

methyl (structure and macromolecules found in)

A
  • Functional group: one C single-bonded to 3 H, on end/outside of molecule
  • Found in: proteins
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9
Q

hydroxyl (structure and macromolecules found in)

A
  • Functional group: one OH single-bonded to end of molecule

* Found in: carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acids, lipids

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10
Q

phosphate (structure and macromolecules found in)

A
  • Functional group: one P double-bonded to one O and single-bonded to 3 more O in tetrahedryl(?) shape, on end of molecule
  • Found in: nucleic acids
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11
Q

sulfhydryl (structure and macromolecules found in)

A
  • Functional group: one S single-bonded to one H, on end of molecule
  • Found in: proteins
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12
Q

amino acid

A
  • Monomer that composes the polymers that are proteins.
  • There are 20 different kinds.
  • Joined by peptide bonds (covalent)
  • Structure: a central C bonded to one amino group, one carboxyl group, one H, and an R group (which determines the unique character of the 20 different amino acids).
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13
Q

protein (defn and functions)

A

Polymers of amino acids. (shape and specific order of amino acid monomers determines the structure and function)
Functions:
* enzyme catalysts
* defense (anti-bodies)
* transport (iron in living things, bind O)
* support (can be structural, connective tissue, ligaments)
* motion (muscles contracting)
* regulation (turn on/off other processes)
* storage (of amino acids)

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14
Q

fatty acid

A

Long hydrocarbon chains that can be saturated, unsaturated, or polyunsaturated.

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15
Q

trigylceride

A
  • A lipid.
  • One glycerol and 3 fatty acids.
  • Excellent energy storage, used by animals.
  • Stores twice as much fat as carbohydrates.
  • Saturated - solid at room temperature
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16
Q

enzyme

A

A protein catalyst - speeds up specific chemical reactions by lowering the activation energy.

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17
Q

peptide bond

A

Links amino acids together in proteins through dehydration synthesis (covalent).

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18
Q

nucleotide (defn and composition)

A
  • Monomer of nucleic acids.
  • Consists of a 5-carbon sugar (either ribose or deoxyribose), phosphate, and a nitrogenous base (either a purine or pyrimidine).
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19
Q

nucleic acid

A
  • A polymer of nucleotide monomers, connected with phosphodiester bonds
  • Primarily either RNA, or DNA.
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20
Q

DNA

A
  • Deoxyribonucleic acid
  • double-stranded in a double helix, connected by H bonds.
  • Nitrogenous bases consist of adenine, guanine, thymine, and cytosine.
  • Mostly for information storage (built up). Read to build proteins. Also, genetic information stored in the sequence of nucleotides.
21
Q

RNA

A
  • Ribonucleic acid, single-stranded.
  • Nitrogenous bases consist of adenine, guanine, uracil, and cytosine.
  • Mostly for info retrieval (broken down). Reads DNA for protein construction (directs their synthesis) and genetic information.
22
Q

lipid

A
  • Fats (triglycerides) and phospholipids
  • Hydrophobic (caused by high proportion of C-H bonds)
  • symmetrical
23
Q

phospholipid (defn and composition)

A
  • Basis of biological membranes, with a polar “head” and non-polar “tails”.
  • Composed of
  • 1 glycerol
  • 2 fatty acids
  • a phosphate group
24
Q

saturation

A

In fats, the maximum number of hydrogen atoms possible are bonded to internal carbons.

25
Q

carbohydrate

A
  • Molecules with a 1:2:1 ratio of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen
  • Good energy storage molecules (C-H bonds hold lots of energy)
  • Ex: sugars, starch, glucose
26
Q

monosaccharide

A
  • A single 6-carbon sugar
  • Very important in energy storage
  • Ex: glucose, fructose
27
Q

disaccharide

A
  • 2 monosaccharides linked together (by dehydration synthesis). Used for sugar transport or energy storage.
  • Ex: sucrose, lactose
28
Q

polysaccharide

A
  • Long chains of sugars, used for energy storage.
  • Plant form is starch; animal form is glycogen.
  • Used for structural support; plants use cellulose, animals use chitin.
29
Q

fructose

A

A structural isomer of glucose (same molecular formula). The “fruit” sugar.

30
Q

sucrose

A

A disaccharide of one glucose and one fructose. (table sugar) The form most plants use to transport glucose.

31
Q

maltose

A

A disaccharide, used in grain for glucose storage.

32
Q

starch

A

A polymer of glucose monosaccharides for storage, such as in chloroplasts.

33
Q

cellulose

A

A polymer of glucose monosaccharides. Substance of cell walls in plants.

34
Q

glycogen

A

A polymer of glucose monosaccharides for energy storage in animals. Stored in a branching structure (like a bush) to quickly store or release sugar molecules.

35
Q

chitin

A

A polymer of a version of glucose (N-acetylglucosamine). Substance found in arthropods (like lobster shells) and fungi cell walls.

36
Q

primary structure

A

Amino acid sequence in proteins. Backbone is always N-C-C repeating.

37
Q

secondary structure

A

Protein structure when you add H bonding to a primary structure (alpha helix or beta pleated sheet).

38
Q

tertiary structure

A

Final 3D shape of a protein with regions of different secondary structures. Shape determines its activity (proteins need a tertiary structure in order to function)

39
Q

quaternary structure

A

The final structure of a protein, when multiple polypeptides are involved in tertiary structure.

40
Q

alpha helix

A

Coiled shape of a protein in secondary structure, bonded in shape by H bonds.

41
Q

beta pleated sheet

A

Bend-and-folded shape of a protein in secondary structure, bonded in shape by H bonds.

42
Q

adenine

A

Purine type nitrogenous base element in a nucleotide. Found in both DNA and RNA.

43
Q

guanine

A

Purine type nitrogenous base element in a nucleotide. Found in both DNA and RNA.

44
Q

cytosine

A

Pyrimidine type nitrogenous base element in a nucleotide. Found in both DNA and RNA.

45
Q

uracil

A

Pyrimidine type nitrogenous base element in a nucleotide. Found only in RNA.

46
Q

thymine

A

Pyrimidine type nitrogenous base element in a nucleotide. Found only in DNA.

47
Q

monomer

A

The smallest unit of a polymer.

48
Q

polymer

A

A molecule composed of many similar or identical molecular subunits (monomers).

49
Q

isomer

A

One of a group of molecules identical in atomic composition but differing in structural arrangement; for example, glucose and fructose.

Principles of Biology I (11 decks)

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